PEORIA — Teams in the Class 1A and 2A boys basketball state finals got a feel for the Carver Arena floor during Thursday afternoon’s shootaround.

In 1A, three of the four teams in the field — Heyworth, Mendon Unity and Mooseheart — are first-time participants at the state finals. All four of the 2A squads have played in the state finals, but Bloomington Central Catholic and Petersburg PORTA will return home with their first state trophies.

Chicago Providence-St. Mel is making its first state finals appearance since a Class A Elite Eight showing in 2002.

“It feels great to be back,” St. Mel coach Tim Ervin said. “Twelve years is a long time.”

The Knights are looking to add to a trophy case that includes the 1985 A state title. Mendon Unity, on the other hand, will claim its first state hoops trophy.

“It’s been a crazy couple of weeks,” Unity coach Keith Carothers said. “Great experience for these kids. Coming from a real small town, and being able to come to a place and enjoy some of the better basketball in the state, hopefully, ”

Towards the end of Unity’s 30-minute shootaround, players stood at halfcourt and fired shots at both baskets. The Mustangs from the Mendon — a town of 953, located roughly 115 miles west of the River City — laughed, joked and took in the experience of being at state.

Carothers said after all the hard work in the offseason and countless hours in the weight room, it was only appropriate for his players to have a little fun.

“If you get to this point, at some point you have to settle down and enjoy it a little bit,” he said. “These kids are kind of a goofier group anyway ... to try to make them be serious on a stage like this I just think kind of goes against everything they’ve done all year.”

To make the weekend in Peoria even more memorable, Carothers and his wife, Amy, celebrated their wedding anniversary on Thursday.

“Our plans are going to be to sit in a hotel, hanging out with a bunch of kids,” Carothers said.

Adam Duvall can be reached at 686-3207 or aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.